Photo: formulanone from Huntsville, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Jackson as a whole is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Jackson differs from Mississippi on 10 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jackson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jackson
Jackson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Jackson is healthier than 9%. Against the 3,061 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 41%. Health Grade ↓
Every town around Jackson scores healthier
All six graded neighbors are ahead of Jackson’s D, from Pearl (C+) to Flowood (A−). Around town ↓
Jackson looks healthier next to Mississippi than next to the country
It’s healthier than 43% of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade, but 9% of towns nationwide. Much of Mississippi scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Jackson
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (33.6%), vs 22.4% across Mississippi. Utility shut-off threats (18.5% vs 11.2%) and housing insecurity (25.4% vs 16.8%) are higher too. 24.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Jackson has six hospitals within its borders
6 hospitals and 2 community health centers are inside Jackson. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Mississippi figure falls outside Jackson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Jackson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jackson is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns, #58 of 101 in Mississippi. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 31% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 2%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Jackson’s median household income is $42,071; among the 3,061 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 41%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Mississippi towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Jackson is healthier than 43% of graded towns, against 9% nationally.
Where Jackson compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.6% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 141,196 residents, Jackson is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Jackson and the towns around it
Jackson’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 7 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | D | 46% | 18.4% | 18.1% | CDC place |
| Flowood | A− | 34.3% | 10.2% | 11% | CDC place |
| Byram | B− | 40.9% | 12.6% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Clinton | B+ | 35.1% | 11.6% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Ridgeland | B+ | 35.3% | 11.4% | 10.8% | CDC place |
| Richland | C+ | 38.1% | 12.6% | 15% | CDC place |
| Pearl | C+ | 38.6% | 12.9% | 15.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.1% of Jackson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Care in and near Jackson
6 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Jackson.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Jackson; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Out of every 100 Jackson adults…
Jackson runs below MS on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
27 miles of trails across 26 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Jackson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Jackson adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Jackson runs above Mississippi.
2 in 5 Jackson adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jackson adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jackson
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jackson is better than Mississippi on 1 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Jackson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jackson | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.8%25.9–31.6 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.6–17 | 14.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.3–20.5 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46%39.5–52.4 | 40.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18.4%16.3–20.6 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48.8%44.9–52.8 | 44.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%33.5–41.5 | 38.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.1%25–31.2 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.4 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.6%5–6.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.6–8 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.6%7.8–9.6 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 5.5%5.1–5.9 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.7%19.2–26.6 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.1%15.9–20.4 | 16.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 37.5%33–42 | 34% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%9.6–14.2 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.7%37.9–49.5 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.8%11.1–14.6 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.3%80.3–86 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86%84.2–87.6 | 86.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77.6–82.3 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62%56.9–66.9 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.9%69.7–83.1 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.5%14.7–20.5 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.7%34.6–44.8 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.4%30.2–38.7 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 33.6%30.4–36.8 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.4%22.7–28.3 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.5%16.5–20.7 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.6%15.9–19.4 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.1%21.5–26.6 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.7%35.5–43.9 | 38.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.5%19.2–23.7 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.9%17–20.8 | 17.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 9.6%8.9–10.4 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.6%11.4–13.8 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.3%6.7–7.8 | 5.3% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Mississippi figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Jackson
Is Jackson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jackson is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health, #58 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 41%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jackson?
CDC estimates 46% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.5% and 52.4%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jackson?
Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Jackson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Jackson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.1–14.6%), against 11.5% across Mississippi.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Jackson more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Jackson.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Mississippi figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.